August 2010 Edition - Radish Magazine

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outdoors Thunder Rolls Adventure racing tests brains and brawn By Laurel Darren Gerry Voelliger extinguishes fires for a living. But in 1997, the Bettendorf fire chief decided to fan the flames of adventure racing by founding his own local event, the Thunder Rolls. The event is not just a test of pure athletic ability. Like all adventure races, the competition also includes elements of navigation, endurance, basic survival skills and the ability to think in stressful situations. Now in its eighth year, the Thunder Rolls Adventure Race will rumble through the Boy Scout Camp Lowden, in Oregon, Ill., Aug. 28. The field of competitors has grown from 12 teams at its inception to 76 teams, the maximum allowable. The race involves paddling, trail running, mountain biking, navigation, coasteering, pack rafting and rope work over courses of 50 or 100 miles through state forests, parks and private land. Additionally, Voelliger introduces Thunder Rolls racers to an appreciation of local history. “I try to include sections of terrain in the Thunder Rolls where people can be educated about our culture,” Voelliger says. “So around here, I try to use the Black Hawk historic sites and the Mississippi River Valley.” Adventure racing leads competitors to different checkpoints along many mixed terrains including over land, across water, and up or down rock faces. Most races have between 30 and 50 checkpoints, which racers find via course maps issued at the beginning of the event. Checkpoints at Thunder Rolls are often located at historical markers. This year the goal of Thunder Rolls is for racers to follow the trails, waterways and migration routes of the Sauk and Fox Indians of the 1800s in Northern Illinois’ Rock River Valley. Camp Lowden, where the event will take place, is near Stillman Valley, the first site of the Black Hawk Wars in 1832. Thunder Rolls was inspired by, and patterned after, the Eco-Challenge — a multiday expedition race that’s been aired nationally by MTV, ESPN, the Discovery Channel and the USA Network. “We are the only adventure race in the country where this course is uniquely challenging for the experienced, but not so hard that newcomers cannot finish,” says Russ Hart, a local runner who has doubled as an adventure racer for the last decade. “Last year, all of the teams finished and that is why they come back.” This year’s Thunder Rolls race features segments of 12 or 24 hours. Prizes are awarded to the top three teams in each division: coed, same gender or masters. Thunder Rolls also is the Midwest Regional Qualifier for the national championships of the United States Adventure Racing Association. “Some of the best teams put together in the sport have come out of our Adventure Racing camp we hold each year,” Voelliger says of the April tuneup for Thunder Rolls. “People come in and realize that there are others they can be 12 Competitors in the 2009 Thunder Rolls Adventure Race put their skills to the test. (Photos by Greg Boll) teammates with, which is so important to Adventure Racing.” For the novice, the sport essentially consists of two- or three-person teams, with one person specializing in navigation, one in reasoning skills in adverse conditions, and still another in athletic skills. Along with navigating skills and finding checkpoint stops, racers must also have a grip on their nutrition, as depleting your body can work against you both physically and mentally. “Nutrition is so huge in this sport,” Hart says. “There also seems to be a high number of people who encounter hyperkalemia, which is drinking too much water.” “You have to learn to balance caloric intake and be aware of how your mind and body feel,” Voelliger adds. “Your teammates must always be aware of how you feel and how they feel. If someone breaks mentally, it can be a long day.” Although adventure racing sounds tough, Thunder Rolls provides volunteers who have many years of personal experience to share. “We are totally blessed to have Janelle Swanberg, Ron and Sue Stonitsch, Bart Roberts, Francis Fitzgerald, and Ryan Voelliger as a part of the crew behind the scenes,” says Hart. For more information, visit thethunderrolls.com or e-mail gerryv@teamhighprofile.com.
good business Bug bites begone: Iowa Naturals product keeps insects at bay By Sarah Ford The search for an insect repellent that is chemical free and yet effective can be a challenging one, now made easier thanks to a local company with your health in mind: Iowa Naturals, maker of Bug-Away. Bug-Away was developed about five years ago by Jill Sydney, founder and soap maker for Iowa Naturals. It’s the culmination of a year’s worth of research, formulation, experimentation and concern driven by acetone-based bug sprays that currently dominate the market. “The cool thing about Bug-Away is that the ingredients come directly from plants. You can’t get more natural than that,” she states. Jill’s 800-square foot basement serves as the laboratory, assembly line and packaging headquarters for her business. She considers Bug-Away to be “one step further” in creating a natural line of products good for the body and the environment. “Making soap is such a passion, but I realized, what else can I create?” She believes that the herbal blends of Bug-Away offer adults and children a safe alternative to the traditional insect repellents. Bug Away is currently available in three different forms: a deodorant-like stick, a roller applicator, and new this year, a water-based “more traditional” spray. All are available through the website, iowanaturals.com, as well as various shops around the region. The Soap Box in the Village of East Davenport, Dried N’ True in LeClaire, and the Soap Opera in Iowa City should all have Bug-Away in stock. All three forms of Bug-Away contain a blend of the same ingredients: safflower seed oil, sweet almond oil, cedarwood oil, citronella oil, eucalyptus citriodora oil, lemongrass oil, vitamin E and rosemary leaf extract. The essential oils were specifically chosen for their ability to deter and repel biting bugs. If used as directed, Bug-Away promises to be an effective repellent for those pesky outdoor intruders for up to two hours. By applying it to your pulse points, you create a force field of aromas that bugs will want to avoid. The most notable scent of Bug-Away is citronella, with subtle hints of lemon. So how effective is Bug-Away? I applied the stick as directed, sat in my backyard on a calm, humid evening and attuned my senses to any bloodthirsty mosquitoes nearby. Sure enough, the annoying buzz of the outdoor enemy was soon audible. What I found is that they looked, but didn’t touch. And after an hour of patiently offering myself as a meal, I walked away bite free. It’s safe to say that Bug-Away can be a worthy addition to your all-natural product arsenal. Submitted Fall � Fun � Fitness � Fall Softball, Adult Volleyball, Youth Sports & Activities MOLINE PARKS & RECREATION 309-524-2424 www.moline.il.us 13 �
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August 2010 Edition - Radish Magazine

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